Major corporate players are showing a great deal of interest in India’s plan to construct small nuclear reactors, known as Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs), for captive industrial usage. In response to a request for proposals (RFP) issued by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to establish two units of 220-MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) BSRs, companies including Reliance Industries, Adani Group, Indian Railways, Greenko, Vedanta, HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL), JSW Group, and Hindalco Industries have responded.
With the goal of replacing current coal-fired thermal power plants in energy-intensive industries like steel, aluminum, copper, and cement, these reactors are specifically constructed for captive use.
In order to promote India’s renewable energy transition and industrial decarbonization objectives, the BSR program is a crucial component of the nation’s larger plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. According to the government’s plan, nuclear power capacity will increase from its present 8.78 GW to 22.48 GW by 2030 and then to 100 GW by 2047.
In comparison to conventional large nuclear plants, small modular reactors (SMRs), such as the BSRs, are preferred due to their compact design, flexibility in siting, lower land needs, and quicker building schedules.
According to the RFP, NPCIL will supply the technology and get paid for operational management, while private entities will fund the building and operation of these reactors. This is a big step toward the private sector joining India’s nuclear industry, which has traditionally only been run by public companies. By 2033, at least five domestically produced SMRs are expected to be operational, and the government is aggressively promoting collaborations with the private sector to conduct research, develop, and implement these cutting-edge nuclear technology.
The project is currently entering its execution phase, as evidenced by the start of land inspections and early site feasibility assessments. In addition to helping firms meet global sustainability standards and lessen their carbon footprint, the BSR program is anticipated to increase industry competitiveness by reducing exposure to taxes and regulations connected to carbon emissions.
Small modular nuclear reactors are positioned as a cornerstone of industrial decarbonization and the path toward net-zero emissions, as seen by the enthusiastic response from India’s top corporations to NPCIL’s BSR project.